Pottery forming device



June 15, 1954 Filed Oct. 15, 1951 w. GLAAB ETAL 2,680,893

POTTERY FORMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS UJz'llz'am LG/IaabLloyd CUIYSOIZ ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 w. L. GLAAB ETAL 2,680,893

POTTERY FORMING DEVICE Filed 001;. 15, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 3 as INVENTORLUz' I Z iamL. Glaab as 5 3a LZQf/d all [$012 BQ/M, r

34 ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1 954 UNITED? ES- PATENT OFFICE:

POTTERY FORMING DEVICE WilliamL; Glaab and Lloyd Wilson, StocktomCalif., assignorsto Laurel Pottery Mfg. C0,, Stockton, Calih,a-partnership Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,372

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to equipment for use in apottery; the invention being directed in particular to,--and it isa-major object to provide, a novel power actuated device for initiallyforming plates or the like from soft or moldable clay.

Another important object of the invention" is to providea-potteryforming device which embodies vertically alined die retainers,one retainer being fixed and the other axially reciprocable relativethereto, whereby such retainers can becaused to closelyapproach eachother so that the dies form a pottery piece therebetween; therebeingnovel 'power' actuated :mechanism connected to the movable dieretainerina manner to reciprocate the same:

A further object of the invention is-to provide power actuatedmechanism, as above,- and for the purpose described, which is operativeto impart progressively greater-axial thrust to the movable die'retaineras it'approaches thefixed die retainer; relativelygreat axial thrust atsuch time being of substantial advantage to the-proper formation betweenthe dies of thepottery'piece.

A stillfurther-object of the invention is to provide power actuatedmechanism as in the precedingparagraphs; which includes-in novelassembly+-a verticallydisposed pantograph linkage, a horizontallydisposed power cylinder connected to -such linkage in actuatingrelation, and a"; plunger rod projectingupwardly fromsaid linkage; thearrangement being: suchthat the-power cylinder may float vertically tocompensate for= vertical movement of the-point of connection with Y thepantograph linkage as the latter is extended or retracted-. I

An' additional object of theinvention is to provide a novel automaticair'blast arrangement adapted to-aid in the freeing'of. the formedpottery: piece-from the fiXed-die-as the movable di'e: be-' i.

gins to retract therefrom. I

It is-also an object of the invention to providea pottery forming devicewhich is designed for ease-and economy: of manufacture; the de-vicefunctioning positivelyand smoothly when in operation, and requiringa-minimum of-maintenance or repair.

Still another object of theinvention is to-provide' a' practical andreliablepottery forming device, and-onewh-ich-willlie-exceedinglyeffective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects;are-accomplished by; means of such structure andrelativearrangement ofparts as will fully; appearbya perusal'of the followingspecification" and claims:- 1

In thedrawingsz- Fig. 1 is a front elevation'of -the pottery formingdevice in-its startingposition; i. c. with the plunger in loweredposition, and with a ball of clay on the lower die.-

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of

the device with the parts in their advanced or pottery forming position;I

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the'potteryforming device in its startingposition.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the fluid pressure conduit system.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the novel, pottery forming device comprises-a rigid upstandingmain frame -I which is substantially waist-height and-includes a topplate2.

A rigid gooseneckt is'fixed'inconnection with the back side of the mainframe I and overhangs the top plate 2 in spaced "relation. The gooseneck3 is fitted, in rigid relation, with a cylindrical retainer 5 whichopens'downwardly and which contains the fixed die- 5; such fixed die --5beingof 'ceramicmaterialand comprising the femaleelement of the dieassembly.

Theretainer t is formed atthe top with a central hub B threaded onto asupporting stem 1. As so mounted," the retainer i-depends in rigidrelation from the 'gooseneck' 3.

A vertical plunger rod 8 is carried in bearings 9 in the upper portionof the main frame I; such plunger rod-8projecting upwardly through thetop plate '2, and at its upper end said rod is fixed to a cylindricalplunger leaxially alined with the retainer ii, and which-plunger carriesthe retainer rod 8 and plunger 19, which-as the dies Band 12 come intocooperative relation-forms the pottery piece It.

I The present invention-provides a novel power actuated mechanism forthrusting. the plunger rod 3 upwardly from its lowered starting;positionto an advanced or pottery forming position; such mechanism comprisingthe following:

A'vertically disposed; laterally'workable pantograph linkage, indicatedgenerally at 15, is disposed in the-main' frame -I b'elowthe plunger- 3rod 6; such pantograph linkage 15 including bottom links it and toplinks ii.

The bottom links [6 are pivoted, as at 18, on a foot block 19 secured toa cross member 28 in the main frame i. The top links 1? are pivoted, asat El, to a top block 22 having an upstanding socket 23 in which thelower end of the plunger rod 8 is secured.

At their adjacent ends the bottom links 16 and top links I? arepivotally connected, as at 24. A fluid pressure actuated power cylinder25 is disposed laterally of the main frame I in horizontal alinementwith the link pivots 2 3; such power cylinder 25 including an inwardlyextending piston rod 25 connected to the adjacent pivot 24.

An elongated yoke 2? is fixed to the power cylinder 25 and extendslengthwise therefrom to ward and spans about the pantograph linkage Iii;such yoke at its outer or closed end having suitable connection with therelated pivot 24.

It will thus be recognized that upon operation of the power cylinder 25,which is of double-' acting type; the pantograph linkage 15 can becaused to forcefully contract or extend; the piston rod 2s and yoke 2ihavingin effect-opposed motions.

As the pivots 24 of the pantograph linkage it fall and rise withcontraction and extension of said linkage, respectively, it is alsonecessary that the power cylinder 25 be permitted to have similarvertical motion. This is accomplished by supporting the power cylinder25 from a base platform 28 by means of an upstanding, laterallyswingable link 29 pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 30, to abracket 3| on platform 28, and pivoted at its upper end, as at 32, to acentral point on a cradle 33 rigid with the yoke 21.

Thus, as the pantograph linkage pivots 2s work upor down, likewise canthe cylinder 25 move; the link 29 swinging in a laterally verticalplane.

Link 29 is the same length as links l6, and is disposed at the sameangle as the link It furthest from the cylinder 25, as shown in Figs. 1and 2,

so that link 29 and said link It form a parallel linkage assuring astraight horizontal movement of the cylinder and yoke.

The power cylinder 25 is controlled byv a valveregulated, fluid pressureconduit system, as follows:

A four-way valve 3Q is mounted on the floor to one side of the mainframe l and ahead of the base platform 28; such valve being inconnection with, and adapted to be actuated by, a foot pedal 35; thelatter having a central position with the valve E l wholly closed.

The valve 3 3 is connected between a fluid pressure supply pipe 36, avent 3i, and conduits 38 and 39 which lead to opposite ends of the powercylinder 25. With depression of the foot pedal 35 at one end, the valve34 is actuated to connect the fluid pressure supply pipe 35 with theconduit 3%, and the conduit 39 with the vent 3?, with the result thatthe power cylinder 25; is actuated in a direction to advance the pistonrod 26 and relatively retract the yoke 2'! whereby to extend thepantograph linkage l5 and raise the plunger rod 8. As the pantographlinkage i5 is thus extended, the axial thrust on the plunger rod 8becomes progressively greater, being very forceful at the moment thatthe lower die If reaches the limit of itsadvancing stroke.

With'depression of .the'foot pedal 35 atthe oppo n e v iiS-W IKW. i0,comedy uid-p es resup v p e tw ih, @Qn uit and conduit 38 with vent 31,resulting in the power cylinder 25 acting in a direction to retract thepantograph linkage [5 so that all of the parts return to their initialor starting position. When this occurs the lower die 12 is retractedfrom the fixed upper die 5; the formed pottery piece 13 being carrieddownwardly on said die i2.

In order to assure that the pottery piece i3 breaks cleanly away fromthe upper die 5, the following fluid pressure blast arrangement isprovided:

An axial passage or duct All extends through the die 5 and through thestem 1, having communication with a conduit M which connects to theconduit 39. When the conduit 39 is in communication with the fluidpressure supply pipe 36, to cause actuation of the power cylinder 25 ina direction to lower the die l2, fluid pressure also feeds through theduct 30, acting on the formed pottery piece 43 to aid in its freeingfrom said die 5..

The fluid pressure preferably employed is air, and the power cylinder 25is a pneumatically actuated type.

Bumpers 42 upstand from the top plate 2 in a position for engagement bythe cylindrical plunger In at the end of the down stroke.

With the above described pottery forming device, pottery pieces can beformed rapidly,

smoothly, and positively by the assembly of the dies 5 and I2 working inresponse to extension and contraction of the pantograph linkage I5 bycylinder 25.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinven-v tion, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A pottery forming device, comprising an upstanding frame, a pair ofcomplementary dies axially alined vertically, means securing the upperdie in rigid connection with the frame. means including a dependentplunger rod mounting the lower die in connection with the frame forreciprocation between a lowered retracted position some distance belowthe upper die and a raised '1 working position closely adjacent theupper die,

a vertically disposed pantograph linkage below the rod and comprisingupper and lower links pivoted together, means attaching the upper linksI at the top to the rod, means attaching the lower links at the bottomto the frame, a substantially horizontal power cylinder disposedlaterally of the linkage and including a piston'rod connected to thenear central pivot of thel-inkage, a yoke secured on and projectinglengthwise from the cylinder and connected to the far central pivot ofsaid linkage, and an upstanding laterally swingable link supporting theyoke for vertical motion with said linkage, said last named link beingthe same length as and parallel to the lower link of the pantographlinkage der.

2. A pottery forming device, comprising an upstanding fi ame, a pair ,cfcompleInentary dies 1 ial vA-alinei; verticall imam.

ndie in rigid 11;.

furthest from the cylinmeans including a dependent plunger rod mountingthe lower die in connection with the frame for reciprocation between alowered retracted position some distance below the upper die and araised working position closely adjacent the upper die, a verticallydisposed pantograph linkage below the rod and comprising upper and lowerlinks pivoted together, means attaching the upper links at the top tothe rod, means attaching the lower links at the bottom to the frame, 10

a substantially horizontal power cylinder disposed laterally of thelinkage and including a piston rod connected to the near central pivotof the linkage, a yoke secured on and projecting lengthwise from thecylinder and connected to the far central pivot of said linkage, andmeans between the frame and yoke supporting the latter for combinedvertical and horizontal movement with said linkage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 84,485 Frear Dec. 1, 1868 516,969 Guy Mar. 20-, 1894 941,214Van Natta Nov. 23, 1909 1,302,191 McNeil Apr. 29, 1919 1,717,996 Moore,Jr. June 18, 1929 1,976,833 Brundage Oct. 16, 1934 2,079,082 Miller May4, 1937 2,135,299 Benander Nov. 1, 1938 2,485,336 Valyi Oct. 18, 19492,584,110 Blackburn et a1 Feb. 5, 1952

